Then I'll Leave?

That evening.

Yadis Kingdom, the capital, Werner.

A lavish side hall in the palace.

"Darren, you little bastard!! That was Germa!! A World Government-affiliated kingdom, and you nearly wiped it off the map!?"

A furious roar came from the Military Den Den Mushi on the tea table. The Den Den Mushi vividly mimicked Fleet Admiral Sengoku of Marine Headquarters, looking so enraged he seemed ready to blow his top.

"Do you know that the Germa Kingdom isn't an ordinary affiliated kingdom? It's one of the member nations qualified to attend the Reverie!!"

"Do you have any idea how much political pressure this will bring down on us?"

"Protecting affiliated kingdom members is the Marines' duty and responsibility!"

"..."

Darren sat on a soft leather sofa, holding a glass of whiskey over ice in one hand and a lit cigar between the fingers of the other.

He crossed his legs and smoked, listening to Sengoku's tirade with an air of indifference.

Gion, Momonga, and Gion's partner, whose face was swollen like a pig's, stood there without daring to breathe too loudly, their eyes fixed on the floor.

"...Damn it!! Darren, you little bastard, are you even listening to me?!"

After ranting for two straight minutes and getting no response from Darren, Sengoku's fury only grew.

"Are you trying to quit as North Blue Admiral?!"

Darren smiled and said,

"Then I'll leave?"

Sengoku: "..."

On the other end of the call, in the Admiral's office,

Sengoku fell silent, his old face turning bright red.

The situation in North Blue was an absolute mess. He hadn't forgotten the lesson from when those two bastards, Borsalino and Sakazuki, had been assigned there.

Only Darren, that cunning little devil, could keep North Blue so thoroughly under control.

If he left his post and was no longer there to keep the region in check, the sea would soon become a playground for pirates and mafia families again.

"I'm joking..."

Darren's smile widened. He lifted his whiskey and took a small sip, savoring the liquor's rich, burning taste as it slid down his throat. Then he said calmly,

"Admiral Sengoku, there's no need to get so worked up. I'll handle this."

Hearing the North Blue Admiral's casual tone, Sengoku nearly flew into a rage again. His eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to rush to North Blue and beat Darren to a pulp.

"Darren, what exactly are you thinking...? If this isn't handled properly, it could set off a whole chain of reactions."

Sengoku's voice was low and grave.

"Ever since the Germa Kingdom was founded, it has been a member of the World Government for three hundred years."

"If the Marines move against an affiliated kingdom... If this gets out of hand, even I won't be able to protect you."

Darren exhaled a cloud of smoke and smiled.

"I understand, Admiral Sengoku."

"But there was a reason behind this incident. Vinsmoke Judge led Germa 66 in an attack on the Yadis Kingdom, which is also an affiliated kingdom of the World Government. If I hadn't stepped in to stop the war, Yadis would likely have been plunged into bloodshed and chaos by now."

Sengoku's mouth twitched.

You call that stopping the war?

You nearly slaughtered the entire Germa Kingdom army!

Darren continued,

"And I'm sure someone as wise as you can see clearly what's happening in North Blue."

"Wars and clashes between the kingdoms are constant. This incident sends a message—and a warning—to the many nations of North Blue..."

"As for the casualties in the Germa Kingdom... The Germa 66 army is made up almost entirely of Clone Soldiers. As products of cloning technology, they're essentially weapons, not civilians."

"Given Vinsmoke Judge's ambition and defiance, after weighing the situation, I concluded that this was the only way to teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget."

"If we don't crush him with overwhelming force, his nature will only make him more arrogant, more brazen, and more reckless. Then it won't just be the Yadis Kingdom dragged into the quagmire of war."

"Can you imagine how many innocent civilians would lose their lives to the flames of war? How many happy families would be torn apart by Germa's ambition?"

Hearing the Marine Captain's righteous words, Gion and her partner, standing nearby, both rolled their eyes.

You don't care about civilian casualties. You're only worried that if war breaks out, you'll lose your chance to make money.

On the other end of the call, Sengoku had fallen silent.

He was naturally familiar with the ambitious commander of Germa, Vinsmoke Judge.

Darren was right. The Yadis Kingdom was merely Judge's first step. His ambition and goal were to dominate all of North Blue.

"...So, Darren, what do you plan to do?"

Sengoku mulled it over. Much of the anger had faded from his voice.

Although he was deeply displeased with Darren's actions, there was no point in assigning blame now that it had already happened.

Darren's talent, methods, ability, and achievements all proved that he was an indispensable pillar of the Marines' future.

And based on what Sengoku knew of Darren, the cunning, clever young man never brought trouble down on himself.

No matter how politically sensitive the situation, he could always resolve it perfectly in some unexpected way.

"You don't need to worry too much about that, Admiral Sengoku..."

Darren tapped the ash from his cigar and smiled with interest.

"I'll take care of everything and give Vinsmoke Judge a proposal he can't refuse."

"He won't lodge a protest with the World Government. The Germa Kingdom will retain its status as an affiliated kingdom, the Marines won't suffer any repercussions or consequences, and North Blue will remain peaceful and stable..."

Darren leaned forward slightly, his smile sharp.

"...under the Marines' rule."

The side hall fell silent. Only Darren's forceful, domineering voice lingered in the air.

Three seconds later,

"...I'll leave it to you, Darren. Whatever happens, you must handle this properly."

Sengoku's low voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

Darren smiled with satisfaction.

"I'll get it done, Admiral Sengoku."

Buru!

The call ended.

Darren turned to Momonga.

"How are things on Germa's side?"

Momonga replied in a low voice,

"We've already brought in ten warships and more than five thousand troops from other North Blue branches. We've essentially taken control of the situation across the Germa Kingdom. Their fleet has already sailed out of Yadis Kingdom's waters under our 'escort.'"

"As for Vinsmoke Judge himself, he's being held aboard our warship, as you ordered."

Darren nodded.

After years of working together, he trusted Momonga's ability to get things done.

"What are you planning to do with Vinsmoke Judge? Whatever else he may be, he's the ruler of a kingdom."

Gion, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up.

Darren glanced at her, then suddenly smiled.

"You don't need to worry about that, Major Gion."

"We have something more important to do now."

"What?" Gion asked, taken aback.

Darren clapped his hands and smiled.

"Celebrate our victory."